Hatching Baby Chicks

How do you turn a pile of eggs into laying chickens?

These are all mixed breed, we seem to have a name for taking chickens when no one else wants them - either because they realize they aren't as cool as they first thought, or they don't have time anymore, or the kids who swore they'd take care of them decided that they wouldn't and Mom decides to find a better home! We've got Black Ostralop (sp), Wyandott, WeilSummer, Buff Orpington, Americauna, some white ones I don't know the name of, some Egyptians, Morans. (they lay chocolate colored eggs)..and a few more!

 Get a Styrofoam hatching box and if you can get an automatic turner! It was a real pain to go in three times a day and turn all the eggs by hand.

 Above you see the first baby chick coming out to play on day 21...

 ...above a few more friends to play with...below even more friends to play with!!

 Bewildered little chick wondering what she's got herself into...

 Finally got all the babies out, a total of 24 out of 42, and now they are in their box with a heat lamp in the dining room...these will be replacement layers for the older gals who are going to be soup later this fall. Probably close to half will be roosters so they'll wind up in the soup pot also! I've already got 3 roosters and don't need more crowing at all hours of the day and night!!